Why, with all the slander online, the discredit by some psuedo-journalist bloggers, and with the fact that I am not rich, or even elected to office yet, should someone vote for me?

In the words of the late Admiral James Stockdale, “WHO AM I? WHY AM I HERE?”

It must seem either courageous or stupid for someone who has not finished their Bachelor’s Degree yet to run for office. Yes, I have sought public office a couple of times. I ran for Warren City Council. I ran for Bradley County Judge. I ran for Lt. Governor, before withdrawing on the day of the deadline, because quite honestly I was tapped out, in terms of funding. I mulled races for Mayor, U.S. Senator, and then ran for Little Rock School Board, where I got beat. Thrashed would be the word and I got only 8 votes.

Also, it seems to be the topic du’ jour anymore to remind voters in any written piece about me about my sins and shortcomings. There is a small clique of people who literally hate me and spend their short time on this earth hating on me. But I have moved beyond them and say to them as the song says, “Hate On Me, Haters.” You know, at least you know with me you are getting someone who admits his faults, does what he can to be accountable for my wrongs, and tries to move beyond. I wonder how anyone else would feel if all you ever did was to hold their face to what they did wrong while ignoring a lot of what they did right. How would you feel? And it dehumanizes the whole thing to say….well thats how it is for politicians. Why? Who made that rule because its not in the Constitution and up until the days of Lee Atwater and Karl Rove, it wasn’t part of politics. The Revolution of 1994, as the Republicans call it, unleashed many demons on the political process that have not bettered the lives of who they were elected to represent. And Democrats are just as guilty. It’s a cancer on the soul of democracy.

So the smart people say….sit back, wait awhile, go for a lower office, etc.

Maybe that is the smart money. But I don’t want to be Justice of the Peace. I don’t want to serve right now in the State House of Representatives or State Senator, as I like both who are there. I want to be Lt. Governor because this is an office that excels and provides the means for me to do what I do best….advocate.

I don’t like to sit back and wait. I have faced death before. When you are diagnosed with cancer, the first time, before you are 30, it makes you think and makes you want to live life to the fullest. Ever since I have been a little kid, all I really wanted to be was a politician. And not so I can better myself but so I can really live the American Ideal of serving others in elective office. Some may think thats homey, quaint, and a bit idealistic. For me, it’s the truth.

So I am running for Lt. Governor. I can’t buy my way there, but I can try to work my way there, and along the way hopefully enough of you will get to know me and see I am just a guy….someone who really wants the chance to serve. I am no Bill Clinton or Mike Beebe….never claimed to be….just me, a regular guy, wanting to do an super-regular task. That is to be elected and serve in office by the people, representing and speaking for the people, and be accountable of the people and their interest.

With me as Lt. Governor, I will spend every waking day, making the people’s business, my business.

I guess its too much to ask the media to cover a campaign fairly. After all, they are the Fourth Estate and have become in some cases so bloated with their own sense of self-importance, that there are some in the media….blog world that is, who care nothing for reporting the news. Rather they like to report what they WISH the news was, though that doesn’t make it reality.

One who meets this is Jason Tolbert of the Tolbert Report. He’s a legend in his own mind. Below is an exchange we had this evening after he wrote that no one is paying attention to me.

Here’s my exchange with Jason Tolbert who will not be receiving any awards for fair journalism lately. Maybe I will win or lose, but it doesn’t change the fact that reporting should be more fair, and Blake Rutherford I believe is correct that Jason Tolbert is “bought and paid for” by the Rethuglicans that continue to sulk over loss after loss after loss at the polls.

Onto our “discussion” :

From:

Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:47:00 -0500

To: ; Jason Tolbert

Subject: Really?

Jason,

I expected a lot more out of you then what you wrote tonight. I guess some people do pay attention to me, but smartass remarks like that suggest something I would like to think you are not in reality. Is it so much to ask you to report news and give a voice to others without your own personal spin. Its okay, if you think I am a nobody. But remember the way you treat others is how you may be treated down the road.

Peace!

Drew Pritt

****

On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 01:50:18 +0000, Jason Tolbert wrote:

Not sure what you expected.

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

****

From:

Date: Mon, 14 Dec 2009 20:55:52 -0500

To:

Subject: Re: Really?

Jason,

I expected some fair reporting. I expected you to at least give me some common respect. You think no one listens to me or notices me. Does that negate the importance of the issues I raise or the statements I make any less important?

You can disagree with me if you choose. I mean I have no compelling authority nor legal power to demand you cover my campaign with the same level you do others. I have appealed to you as one who is seemingly wanting to be a journalist and asking you to cover the campaign with fairness, rather than smartass attacks or statements that demean who I am or what I believe.

I guess I expected you to be professional and fair. Too much to expect I guess!

Drew

****

On Tue, 15 Dec 2009 02:04:47 +0000, Jason Tolbert wrote:

I gave you more coverage than anyone else in the state but you are welcome to try your luck with them.

Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

****

Jason,

Really?

Jason, thats not true and even if it were, that wouldn’t justify writing what you wrote. Look, I am not going to fight with you. I appealed to your sense of fairness and apparently you possess none.